[REVISION HISTORY]

Danube drought impacts regional nuclear energy

Updated 24 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-11 05:17 UTC → 2026-09-24 13:21 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Danube drought ~~impact on~~ impacts regional nuclear energy

Extreme drought and record-low water levels in the Danube continue to impact regional nuclear energy production. In Hungary, the Paks Nuclear Power Plant operates at a severely reduced capacity, necessitating increased electricity imports. In Romania, the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant has undergone a complete shutdown of both reactors, resulting in a temporary loss of over 1,400 MW of capacity. As of late September ~~10,~~ 2026, the ~~timeline for~~ situation has intensified as water levels at Baziaș reached 1,600 mc/s, significantly below the multi-annual September average of 3,800 mc/s. At Cernavodă, water levels have hit a ~~restart remains focused on late September.~~ modern historical minimum of -255 cm, surpassing the previous record low of -247 cm set in 2003. Although dredging operations were initiated in early August to secure cooling water, these activities have reportedly been halted. Interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan ~~stated~~ previously indicated that a restart ~~may~~ might only be ~~seriously~~ considered toward the end of ~~the month, as the shutdown was caused by drought~~ September. However, current hydrological conditions ~~on a secondary branch of the Danube. While~~ suggest the plant ~~is expected~~ may be unable to ~~stabilize the system by providing approximately 20% of~~ restart soon to balance the ~~nation's~~ energy ~~once it returns to production in October,~~ mix, potentially prolonging the ~~current shortage has forced a~~ reliance on ~~imports, coal,~~ imports and ~~reserve capacities. This imbalance has increased daily costs, with officials warning of a potential increase in energy prices this autumn. To mitigate the deficit of 1,200 to 1,300 MW, Romania~~ increasing electricity bills. Once production resumes, Cernavodă is ~~utilizing wind energy and imports.~~ expected to provide approximately 20% of Romania’s energy. Long-term stability may be aided by the Iernut and Mintia power plants, which are expected to begin injecting energy into the system this winter. To manage the immediate crisis, the Romanian government has approved a memorandum to delay the decommissioning of certain lignite-based power plants, a move that carries a potential EU penalty risk of at least 124 million euros.

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